Imo State Government has described as infantile hallucination a trending video linking Gov Hope Uzodimma to an alleged pipeline being built in the state to connect gas direct to the United States of America and parts of Europe.
It said the amateur video purported to be issued by a pro Biafran organisation was intended to smear the image of the governor and incite Ndigbo against the rest of Nigerians.
The Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba dismissed the video as a “satanic attempt to incite another round of violence in the state after the recent burning of the National Open University of Nigeria Centre at Ehime Mbano which was also fuelled by unfounded rumours and incitement by debased and deranged elements “
” They have started again. After the arson at Mbano , they have started weaving another Web of lies and propaganda as a prelude to unleash violence in the state. The security agencies should be aware of this satanic move”, Emelumba submitted.
He raised the alarm that the ” senseless, childish and illogical contents of the video might be believed by gullible people with mob mentality to cause violence “
He explained that neither the federal government nor the state is aware of any plans to construct pipeline from Imo State to either Europe or the US.
According to him, ” in their ignorance and haste to characterize Uzodimma as a villain, the purveyors of the hate speeches did not even consider the fact that such a project is practically impossible “
” But the tragedy of what is happening is that the real enemies of Ndigbo are pushing a narrative of stereotyping of other Nigerians, forgetting that igbos are found in all parts
of the country and stand the risk of being harmed because of the rhetorics of a few misguided elements among us”, he noted.
Emelumba challenged those circulating the seditious video to provide any iota of evidence that such a pipeline project is even in the offing.
He said rather what the state government is doing is to leverage on the free trade zone granted the state to encourage investors to utilise the abundant gas deposits for setting up of industries for the employment of Imo people.
He dismissed the report of Uzodimma arranging for a hide out after his tenure,describing the proposition as ridiculous.
” After his tenure, His Excellency will still be in Nigeria. He has not committed any crime to warrant him going on exile. I only pray that those peddling this libelous falsehood against him will still be alive to witness everything “, he declared